Chapter 26: Emerging Untainted from the Mire (2)

Song Qi thought the Empress was strange.

But after receiving that imperial decree, she’d stopped expecting this world to make sense.

Strange was strange. So be it.

Meng Yilan looked at Song Qi, her eyes full of anticipation and admiration. “General, would you like me to show you around the palace?”

“Sure.” Song Qi nodded. Women really were changeable. One moment they were sitting around, the next they wanted to go to the Imperial Garden, and now it was the whole palace.

It didn’t matter where they went, really. They’d end up talking either way.

“General, if you’re ever bored, you can come find me whenever you like. I’ve never left the capital, but I’ve read plenty of travelogues. You could say I’ve toured all of Dajin.”

“Would you like to see it for yourself?” Song Qi turned to look at her.

Meng Yilan blinked, then smiled. Her voice was very soft. “How could I leave?”

Song Qi was about to answer, but Meng Yilan changed the subject and began showing her around the palace, slipping in a few hints about the tensions among the consorts.

“That’s the training ground,” Meng Yilan said, leading her over. “The princes used to live nearby. Now only the Fourteenth Prince and Seventeenth Prince live in this area. I thought you might find it interesting.”

There were two boys in the training ground. One looked about seven or eight; the other was a little older, perhaps thirteen or fourteen.

Meng Yilan raised a hand, telling the attendants not to disturb them.

The Late Emperor was something else. He was over seventy when he died.

The boys were practicing archery, apparently competing. The younger one missed the target, while the older one barely hit it, and his arrow landed far from the center.

“Has Zhao Zhi not had them train in martial arts?” Song Qi asked quietly.

Meng Yilan glanced at her, surprised by how casually she’d used the Emperor’s name, but she didn’t say anything. She only nodded.

Song Qi walked over and picked up an arrow beside Seventeen.

Seventeen had just lost and was still in a bad mood. When he saw Song Qi, he snapped, “Who are you? Who said you could touch my things?”

Song Qi glanced at him and tossed the arrow. It struck the bull’s-eye. Her movement was casual, and her eyes remained fixed on Seventeen.

He froze, then stared at her with wide eyes. “Whoa!”

Within seconds, Seventeen was looking at Song Qi with open admiration.

Kids were so easy to fool.

Meng Yilan came over with a smile. The Fourteenth Prince and Seventeen immediately bowed, then looked at Song Qi expectantly.

“This is General Shao,” Meng Yilan said with a smile.

“Whoa!” The boys exclaimed again, their eyes shining even brighter.

“You can call me Sister.” Song Qi reached out and rubbed both boys’ heads. “Want to learn to shoot like me? I can teach you.”

Meng Yilan looked at Song Qi, her mouth parting as if she wanted to stop her. But then she saw the boys’ eager faces and didn’t know what to say.

Song Qi turned to her. “You can join us, too.”

“Me?” Common sense told Meng Yilan she should refuse. Dajin wasn’t especially harsh toward women, but it wasn’t lenient, either. Most women weren’t allowed to ride horses. A woman who picked up a bow or a blade would be mocked.

Even the Emperor’s consorts were only allowed to ride and shoot a few arrows during the annual hunt. It was treated like a special favor. They didn’t need to be accurate. No matter which way they shot, someone would bring over a rabbit and pretend they’d hit it.

Shao Jie was an exception, partly because of her family and partly because she was so capable. Most people didn’t think she was wrong to do what she did. They just sighed and said, “What a pity she wasn’t born a man.”

“Don’t you want to try?” Song Qi picked up the bow, took Meng Yilan’s hand, and placed it on the grip. “Give it a shot. There’s no one else here. If anyone hears about it, you can say I forced you.”

Meng Yilan looked at Song Qi, then down at the bow in her hands. Almost without thinking, she nodded and walked to the side, taking aim at the target.

She wasn’t strong enough. After several tries, her arrows fell short of the target.

Meng Yilan’s expression crumpled.

When no one was looking, she took a deep breath, tossed the bow aside, and turned away.

Song Qi was with the two boys, explaining something and patiently correcting their stances.

She helped them hold their bows and shot two arrows. Both struck the bull’s-eye. Cheers rang out across the training ground.

Song Qi patted the boys’ shoulders, then went over to Meng Yilan.

“Don’t like it?”

“I’m too weak.” Meng Yilan sighed. Her voice carried a trace of hurt.

“Then we’ll move the target closer.” Song Qi had someone move it.

Meng Yilan blinked at her. The target was now only about six and a half feet away.

“That’s too close. There’s no challenge in it.” Meng Yilan picked up the bow and shot again. This time she hit the target, though she was still off-center.

Song Qi stepped behind Meng Yilan and covered her hands with her own to help her hold the bow.

Meng Yilan startled. She wanted to move away, but there was nowhere to go.

“Why are you shaking?” Song Qi looked down at her. Meng Yilan’s lips were pressed tightly together. She looked nervous.

“I’m not.”

Song Qi didn’t ask again. She simply guided Meng Yilan’s hands and loosed an arrow. It struck the bull’s-eye.

Meng Yilan’s face brightened with a smile.

Song Qi explained how to draw the bow. These were basic skills Shao Jie knew by heart.

Song Qi spoke slowly, not wanting Meng Yilan to miss anything.

A warm breath kept brushing against Meng Yilan’s ear. As for what Song Qi was saying, she didn’t hear a word. Her thoughts were a tangled mess.

Song Qi guided her hands through a few more shots. Meng Yilan was still too dazed to react.

The feeling was strangely familiar.

She glanced up at Song Qi’s profile, frowned, then lowered her eyes.

“Try it yourself,” Song Qi said, releasing her hands.

Meng Yilan picked up the bow and fired at random. This time the arrow flew farther, but sailed right past the target.

Song Qi fell silent for a few seconds. At least she wasn’t one of my soldiers.

The Fourteenth Prince and Seventeen clamored for Song Qi’s attention and tugged her away.

Meng Yilan gripped the bow and took a deep breath.

They stayed until noon. Meng Yilan had long since tired out, so she found a shady spot and watched the three of them from a distance. Whenever the princes did something foolish, she couldn’t help laughing.

When it seemed like enough time had passed, Song Qi called it a day.

Meng Yilan watched Song Qi say something to the boys, then walk over. She straightened up without thinking.

“Let’s go.” Song Qi wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Meng Yilan frowned, took out her handkerchief, and wiped Song Qi’s brow for her. She did it carefully, then slipped the handkerchief into her sleeve. “Come on. I’ve had lunch prepared in Fengyi Palace. Will you eat with me?”

“Sure.” Song Qi fell into step beside her. “Were you bored?”

“Not at all. There isn’t much to do here anyway.”

They had to cross the Imperial Garden to get back to Fengyi Palace. As soon as they entered, Song Qi heard two women arguing nearby.

Meng Yilan frowned, trying to hide the impatience in her eyes.

“You could at least bow to me, Sister. But why did you bump into me, too?”

“Sister, don’t slander me. When did I bump into you?”

“Everyone saw it. You can’t talk your way out of it. This hairpin was a gift from the Emperor. Are you jealous? Is that why you did this? Don’t you know what a serious offense it is to damage a gift from His Majesty?”

Song Qi peered through the branches and saw two women.

One was dressed in finery. The other barely wore any jewelry.

Song Qi hadn’t seen the woman in fine clothes that morning.

“They should be Consort Fang and Noble Lady Li,” Meng Yilan said.

Song Qi nodded, filing the names away.

“The Empress has arrived! The Noble Consort has arrived!”

The two women fell silent. Noble Lady Li bowed properly, while Consort Fang was more casual.

“What’s going on? Why are you arguing in public?” Meng Yilan asked.

“Your Majesty, Noble Lady Li didn’t bow to me. Then she bumped into me and knocked off my hairpin. His Majesty gave it to me.” Consort Fang looked at Noble Lady Li. “Your Majesty, please do me justice.”

Noble Lady Li dropped to her knees. “Your Majesty, please judge fairly. I would never dare offend Consort Fang.”

Song Qi kept her face blank. I want to leave. Is anything more boring than listening to two women squabble?

“Is the hairpin really that important?” she asked.

“Of course, Noble Consort. It was a gift from the Emperor.”

“If it’s so important, why not take it home and put it on display instead of wearing it out?” Song Qi raised her eyes and glanced lazily at Consort Fang. “And how exactly did she bump into you? Your clothes are neat, your hair is neat. How was she supposed to do that? Why don’t you show me?”

“I—”

“If you figure out how she bumped into you, come to Fengyi Palace and explain it to the Empress and me. If you can’t, go apologize to the Emperor yourself.” Song Qi looked at Consort Fang coldly. “Any questions?”